Protesters use balloons to flag up anger at Budget cutbacks

Dozens of protesters gathered outside Downing Street today to fight against unemployment and the cuts in services announced in the Budget.

Black helium-filled balloons, representing nurseries, child tax credits and free school meals were ready to be released when George Osborne walked out of Downing Street.

Chris Bambery, 54, secretary of the Right to Work Campaign, from Queen's Park, said: "We're here today to represent the majority of people who rely on the state education system, the NHS and other public welfare services. As the father of two pre-school boys, I'm very worried about Sure Start. I live in one of the poorest parts of my borough and Sure Start is vital to parents."

He added: "We don't want to pay for this Budget deficit, we didn't cause it. This is the result of bailing out the bankers. We should not have to pay for Northern Rock and RBS."

Mr Bambery said that one protester would be dressed as the "lord high executioner", wielding an axe, and symbolically cutting the heads off nurses, pensioners and civil servants.

Sarah Creagh, 27, lives in Tower Hamlets and is a qualified nurse and member of the Socialist Workers Party.

"I think the government has forgotten that it wasn't ordinary people who caused the deficit. It was the bankers and the super-rich, who are still getting more wealthy, who caused the crisis in the first place," she said.